Terrell Newby carries load in win for Chaminade

In a game showcasing two of the premiere running backs in the Southern Section, Terrell Newby carried 34 times for 233 yards and four scores as West Hills Chaminade held off host Notre Dame, 35-27, on Friday night in Sherman Oaks.

When told his game statistics, Newby shrugged and said: “That’s execution. That’s what we wanted to do. This is a big rivalry and the whole team stepped up.”

Khalfani Muhammad, the 100- and 200-meter state track champion, carried 17 times for 103 yards and one touchdown while he also caught three passes for 30 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown, for Notre Dame (4-2).

Miguel Ramos returned a blocked field-goal attempt 85 yards for a touchdown with 3:13 remaining to pull Notre Dame to within the final margin, but Chaminade’s Nolan Ramirez recovered the ensuing onside kick at the Eagles’ 46-yard line to help seal the victory.

After Daniel Khan caught a 42-yard touchdown pass from Kelly Hilinski to pull Notre Dame to within 28-20 early in the third quarter, Newby took a handoff and ran 60 yards for his last touchdown.

Hilinski completed nine of 17 passes for 114 yards.

Isaiah Bernard caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from Brad Kaaya with 16 seconds left in the first half to increase the Eagles’ lead to 28-13.

Kaaya, making his first start at quarterback for Chaminade, completed 20 of 24 passes for 362 yards.

“He’s got a great arm, I wanted to give him a shot and he deserved to start tonight,” Chaminade Coach Ed Croson said of Kaaya. “We’re still going to use two quarterbacks but he really established himself.”

Muhammad’s nine-yard run up the middle cut the Knights’ deficit to 21-13 with 1:10 left in the second quarter, but the extra-point kick hit the goalpost. Hilinski set up the score with a 24-yard run.

Newby swept right to score his third touchdown on a four-yard run that capped a 61-yard drive to gave Chaminade (4-1) a 21-7 lead with 1:52 left in the second quarter. Newby scored on a 17-yard run earlier in the drive, but the play was nullified by an illegal block in the back.

Muhammad’s touchdown reception completed a 10-play, 71-yard drive that tied the score, 7-7, wih 1:31 left in the first quarter.

The Eagles drove 80 yards in eight plays on their first drive, taking a 7-0 lead on Newby’s one-yard run.

Newby, who wears No. 34 in honor of his hero, former Chicago Bears great Walter Payton, scored his second touchdown on a pitch from three yards to put Chaminade back in front, 14-7, early in the second quarter.

“Terrell is so explosive and so fast -- he runs like Payton did,” Croson said of his star running back. “He’s one of those throwback players. He’s got some motorand he showed it tonight.”

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